Posts Tagged teen drug abuse

Parents Dealing with Child’s Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing on January 5th, 2012

Statistics on drug abuse in the year 2011 proves to be very alarming especially for parents. For the fourth straight year, marijuana use among high school seniors increased. In the same student population, 50% of them admitted to using illicit drugs at some point in their young lives while 40% of them are already into one or more types of drug abuse in the past year alone.

child drug abuseUnfortunately, not all drug abuse cases get the necessary treatment or therapy. More than 23 million people in America are hooked on drug and alcohol use, yet only 2.6 million receive the help that they need to sober up again.

When this problem occurs in the family especially on kids, parents should be ready and equip themselves to be able to deal with the situation. When parents suspect their child is into drug use, it’s best to have him immediately tested. Parents can purchase drug testing kits for their children or acquire the services of professionals in doing the process.

Kids are not the only ones who need help with drug problems. Parents too need the proper information and support to better handle their kids’ problems. The more parents learn about the condition of their kids, the more they are able to help them get better. There are many organizations that offer their services to help parents in complicated situations.

It is necessary to have the parent-child talk, but it should be done at the right time and place. Do not attempt to talk to kids when they are under the influence or when there are other people that could hear your conversation. Yet it is important that the talk should be made at the soonest possible time before things get worse.

Parents should never let shame or fear get in the way of helping their child. After all, there are other families who experience the same problem and resolving the problem is much more important than keeping family reputation.

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Teen Marijuana Use Up, Teen Cigarette and Alcohol Use Down

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Marijuana Use and Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 27th, 2011

In a latest survey conducted among teens in the United States, it has been noted that while tobacco and alcohol use declined among the youth, marijuana use increased.

marijuanaDr. Nora Volkow, who heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that the decline in tobacco use among teens is welcome news. Yet the rate of its decline goes slower and slower over the years, and this could still be a concern for everybody. “This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products,” Volkow said.

Survey results also confirmed that marijuana use among high school students has reached 25% in the past year compared to about 21% in 2007. The most troubling reality uncovered by the survey is the fact that daily marijuana use among senior high school students is at 7%. This percentage is by far the highest since 1981.

The rise in marijuana use could be due to the fact that mortality rates linked to marijuana use is by far much lower than reported tobacco fatalities. Smoking marijuana is perceived as much safer than cigarettes therefore more individuals are getting into the habit of pot smoking instead of cigarettes. What teens might be disregarding is that daily marijuana use leads to addiction which in turn could mean more serious conditions.

Alcohol use among teens is also on the decline. Reports regarding fatal cases on driving under the influence, higher risks for addiction and overdose, and violent reactions related to alcohol use have discouraged teens from alcohol abuse.

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Program Helps Fight Substance Abuse Among African-American Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on December 20th, 2011

A new program has shown signs of helping in making a difference on alcohol and drug abuse issues, as well as on behavioral problems, among African-American teens.

drug abuseStudy author Gene Brody said that after two years of offering the program to parents and their kids, a new study conducted on participants showed that there has been a decrease in the number of drugs and alcohol abuse and in behavioral problems in the targeted population.

“During the high school years is when kids often begin to use drugs and escalate their use of drugs, so it’s really an important time to introduce some prevention programs,” Brody said.

The program is specifically designed for African-American families. Parents and kids are given the opportunity to attend sessions on improving academic performance, resisting peer pressure, dealing with discrimination or racism, and effectively implementing household rules.

As African-American kids aged 16 and their parents go through the program, which consists of five two-hour sessions, they are supported and assisted by caregivers who provide them with tips on good parenting practices and setting rules on alcohol and drug abuse. Teens are taught about self-control and are guided to achieve improved academic standings.

The participants came from rural areas. While it may be true that kids in rural areas have lower drug and alcohol abuse cases compared to their urban counterparts, recent studies have shown that risks are increasing.

Brody confirms that their program is warmly received by their target population. “There was great excitement around the program. These parents realize, there’s not a lot of opportunity to help them or to help their youth develop in a way that’s going to put them on a path to success.”

He is hopeful, despite some financial obstacles encountered, that they could share the program to more parents and kids in other key areas.

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Keeping Teens Away from Marijuana and Other Drugs

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Marijuana Use and Abuse on December 12th, 2011

While it may be true that alcohol and tobacco use among young people have decreased over the years, it seems a different case when it comes to teen marijuana use.

parent and child talkParents often refuse to acknowledge what is happening to their kids until everything becomes too late. This is because parents and kids feel uncomfortable discussing marijuana and other drug abuse issues. Yet in keeping kids away from pot and other drugs, parents are key factors as they serve as their children’s role models and source of information.

Here are some suggestions as to how parents can keep teens safe and in a healthy environment:

1. The talk about drugs should start early and should be consistent through the years. Remember to include issues like addictions, impaired driving skill and learning capabilities, and other risky behaviors associated with drug use. Cooperate with your child’s school on the matter as they can very well influence your child on his decision making.

2. Parents should serve as role models, so if you are a pot smoker, you must cut the habit immediately and without hesitation.

3. If you have experiences on pot use or other types of drug abuse, be honest and tell your kids you’ve done it. It’s the best way for you to share the destructive effects of your past habits and it will no doubt have a great impact on your kids.

4. Make sure you know your child’s activities without invading their right to privacy. Give concrete guidelines to them when it comes to drinking and drugs and at least ensure that adults are present during teen parties or gatherings.

5. Kids should be able to approach parents when they are in doubt of anything related to substance abuse. As parents, you should be the first persons kids run to when they need proper education and correct information on the subject matter. In short, communication lines should be kept open between you and your children at all times.

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Candid Discussions on Substance Abuse Between Parents and Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on December 4th, 2011

Students from the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will get the opportunity to bare all when it comes to substance abuse issues with their parents.

teen alcohol abuseOn its second year, the “Candid Discussion” event, made possible by the Community Connections group in partnership with the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) L-S Chapter, will take all the barriers when children and parents talk about drugs, alcohol and risky behaviors.

The event will have ten student volunteers chosen by the SADD. Their identities will be kept confidential, even their parents and school authorities will not be able to know who they are. This is what the organization will give them in exchange for their honesty with regards to issues of substance abuse.

The students and parents will be in separate rooms, with the students speaking via a voice modulator to avoid any identification. The volunteers will talk honestly about their lives, their activities, how they deal with relationships, and just about any other teen issue that are hard to discuss in a home setting.

“The only people who know who these kids are the SADD kids who asked them to do it. Even the teachers don’t know. It’s all very confidential, which allows the kids to be honest,” adds Kathy Howd from Community Connections.

“Quite frankly, I think a lot of parents have no clue what’s going on,” Howd said. “And the kids have so many ways, especially with technology, to mislead them.”

Sarah Greely, who teaches at the L-S wellness department and an adviser for SADD, hopes that their initiative will help both parents and kids to discover everything about the truths on substance abuse.

Organizers of “Candid Discussion” made it clear that they aren’t trying to portray teenagers of today as substance abusers or risk takers. They instead want to put kids and parents on the same level when it comes to the issue of drugs and other substances so that both parties will be able to work together in promoting healthy living and safe environments.

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Teens Resist Substance Abuse by Helping Others

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction on November 14th, 2011

It has been noted that teens are able to resist their alcohol and drug cravings while on treatment programs by helping others.

teen drug abuseCase Western Reserve University has identified these cravings as the major causes of relapse after teens undergo treatment for substance abuse. A new study suggests that teens that help other teens who were in the same path as they were before increase their resistance to go into substance abuse again.

This new finding on teen substance abuse was gathered through a study that was participated by 93 males and 102 females aged 14 to 18 years old who were all graduates from drug courts or from substance abuse treatment facilities. About 92 % of the study population was addicted to marijuana and almost 60% of them were previously hooked on alcohol.

Maria Pagano, an associate professor of psychiatry, described the results of their study. “Our findings indicate that service participation in 12-step programs can reduce the craving symptoms experienced by adolescents in treatment for alcohol and or drug addiction.”

Among the participants in the research, who were all interviewed within the first 10 days of their 12-step program and were released after two months, helping others go through the same treatment process made four out of seven substance abuse cases successful, and two types of cravings symptoms were reduced as psychological dispositions improved.

It was also noted that teens who had stronger spiritual pursuits (those who prayed, meditated, and did worship more) were more readily available to help others too.

Pagano confirmed the role of religion in the success of an individual going through the 12-step program. She said that teens who identify with their religion found it easier to adapt to the program which paved the way for them to get better.

Those who entered the program without any religious affiliation had more difficulty surviving the program.
“In turn, youth entering treatment with low or no religious background may require greater 12-step facilitation or a different approach to derive equal benefit from treatment.”

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